suspend

verb

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sus·pend | \ sə-ˈspend

suspended; suspending; suspends

Definition of suspend

transitive verb

1 : to debar temporarily especially from a privilege, office, or function suspend a student from school

2a : to cause to stop temporarily suspend bus service

b : to set aside or make temporarily inoperative suspend the rules

3 : to defer to a later time on specified conditions suspend sentence

4 : to hold in an undetermined or undecided state awaiting further information suspend judgment suspend disbelief

5a : hang especially : to hang so as to be free on all sides except at the point of support suspend a ball by a thread

b : to keep from falling or sinking by some invisible support (such as buoyancy) dust suspended in the air

c : to put or hold in suspension suspended sediment

6a : to keep fixed or lost (as in wonder or contemplation)

b : to keep waiting in suspense or indecision

7 : to hold (a musical note) over into the following chord

intransitive verb

1 : to cease operation temporarily

2 : to stop payment or fail to meet obligations

3 : hang

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about suspend

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Choose the Right Synonym for suspend

defer, postpone, suspend, stay mean to delay an action or proceeding. defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time. deferred buying a car until spring postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time. the game is postponed until Saturday suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied. business will be suspended while repairs are underway stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority. the governor stayed the execution

Did You Know?

When something is suspended, it is "left hanging;" it is neither in full operation nor permanently ended. Suspense is a state of uncertainty and maybe anxiety. When we watch a play or movie, we enjoy experiencing a "suspension of disbelief;" that is, we allow ourselves to believe we're watching reality, even though we aren't truly fooled.Suspension can also mean physical hanging; thus, in a suspension bridge, the roadway actually hangs from huge cables. When some substance is "in suspension", its particles are "hanging" in another substance, mixed into it but not actually dissolved, like fine sand in water, or sea spray in the air at the seashore.

Examples of suspend in a Sentence

He was suspended from the team for missing too many practices. The police officers were suspended without pay for their conduct. The principal suspended the student from school for fighting. The city suspended bus service during the storm. The company was forced to suspend operations. They have suspended the peace talks. I advise suspending judgment until the investigation is over. Her license to practice law was suspended. We can suspend the rules just this once. He's driving with a suspended license.

Recent Examples on the Web If a successful objection is raised, Pence would suspend the joint session and order lawmakers back to their respective chambers to debate on the merits of the challenge for two hours, followed by votes in each chamber. — al, "Marathon of Congressional Electoral College objections will only delay the inevitable," 6 Jan. 2021 Additionally, Michigan will no longer suspend licenses as a penalty for drug convictions. — Angie Jackson, Detroit Free Press, "Whitmer signs bills to curb license suspensions, dozens of criminal justice reforms," 5 Jan. 2021 To hook up with a trout, suspend tiny jigs tipped with maggots or waxworms under a small float, constantly changing the depth of the jig to determine where the trout are feeding. — cleveland, "Ice just forming, and it’s not safe yet: NE Ohio fishing report for weekend of Jan. 1-3, 2021," 31 Dec. 2020 And anyone who believed that the other conferences would follow the Big Ten’s lead and open-endedly suspend their seasons was mistaken. — New York Times, "Was the College Football Season Worth It?," 30 Dec. 2020 Despite her concern, USASF did not suspend the choreographers — Brandon Hale and Tajii Davis — as police investigated. — USA Today, "Help USA TODAY investigate misconduct in cheerleading," 23 Dec. 2020 These channels also suspend the food, allowing heated air to circulate from both directions. — Michael Pollick, chicagotribune.com, "The best broiler pan," 19 Dec. 2020 Among his first acts was to fire or suspend the heads of each of the broadcasting networks under his supervision, as well as senior managers at USAGM, who subsequently filed a whistleblower complaint and civil lawsuit against him. — Washington Post, "Trump appointee who oversees Voice of America refuses to cooperate with Biden transition team," 8 Dec. 2020 SkyStar Observation Wheel, the 150 ft tall observation wheel located in Golden Gate Park’s Music Concourse, will temporarily suspend operations effective Sunday, after health officials announced San Francisco entered the state’s purple tier. — Chronicle Staff, SFChronicle.com, "Coronavirus news from the Bay Area: Nov. 27-Dec. 3," 4 Dec. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'suspend.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.